Tribal settlements in Anaikatti abuzz with excitement on election day

Coimbatore: Sixty-five-year old Marudhamma from the Irula tribal settlement at Vadakkalur in Anaikatti got down from an autorickshaw with the help of her son in front of a polling booth, right on the Tamil Nadu- Kerala border. Using a walking stick, she limped into the booth to cast her vote. Seventy-year-old Kuppamma from Thekkalur, another tribal settlement, followed her.
The polling booths in Anaikatti and surrounding tribal hamlets such as Jambukandi saw residents including enthusiastic senior citizens queuing up right from Thursday morning.

While some booths in the tribal hamlets had recorded about 50% turnout by noon, they had reached about 76% when the polling closed. The polling booths in Anaikatti, which had a total of 1,650 voters, saw 76.15% voter turnout. The booth at Jambukandi with a total of 525 voters touched 76.76%. Meanwhile, the 13 tribal settlements in Valparai, which had about 1,000 voters, saw more than 68% voter turnout.

Several senior citizens from tribal communities arrived in autorickshaws to the polling booths in Anaikatti, known as the ‘last booth’ due to their proximity to the neighbouring state. Marudhamma said she had spent Rs 50 on the ride. “Everyone has to vote. Is there another option?” she asked when questioned about the trouble she underwent to reach the booth.

Seventy-five-year old C Duraisamy, another resident of the Irula settlement in Anaikatti, who works as a labourer under the 100-day guaranteed work scheme, has his eyesight failing. He had broke his leg a few months ago. “But I can’t use them as excuses to not vote. I have been keen to vote in every election. I have done my duty,” he told TOI.

The residents hoped whoever gets elected gives them land and also help them build permanent houses. “We mostly cultivate millets here and need own agricultural lands. Also, the frequency of buses to the area, which is currently twice a day, should increase,” said 61-year-old A Ramasamy, a member of the Irula tribe.